Anya Thakur: I represent more than myself, I represent millions around the world

How Anya Thakur began her fight for girls- from a teen celebrity journalist in the Los Angeles Times to one of the youngest advocates for UN Women- and how she continues her work through her foundation, ShePower, which she founded with We Movement.

How Anya Thakur began her fight for girls- from a teen celebrity journalist in the Los Angeles Times to one of the youngest advocates for UN Women- and how she continues her work through her foundation, ShePower, which she founded in partnership with MetoWe.

I want to share my story in the hope that millions of girls and people see themselves reflected in me and resonate with my mission.

2003

I was born in Los Angeles, California on August 22, 2003 to a family of immigrants from India, who sought to give me opportunities that they did not have and raised me to be a global citizen, with my eyes and ears open to sometimes harsh realities and my heart open to those in need.

2008

I began kindergarten and my awareness of the world around me began to grow. With this heightened awareness and perception, I developed a deep appreciation for my education and of what I could do to make a difference. From volunteering on LA’s Skid Row and requesting local bakeries to donate food to the homeless, I had incredible conversations that broadened my views at a young age right in my hometown nestled in the Golden Coast.

2015

I created and grew GirlUp Dallas to a network of over one hundred fifty young women and girls from diverse backgrounds across Plano and Frisco to convene together and develop solutions to advocate for and empower themselves and their communities and girls around the world. I now collaborate closely with state senators, governors, and women’s empowerment organizations in outreach efforts to reach lower income or underrepresented areas.

2017

I turned my passion for the arts and writing to a way to advocate and uplift, founding ShePower, a global organization to empower and educate girls. I worked extensively with local leaders in Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, and Mumbai to break gender stereotypes, implement programs such as providing self defense and martial arts training to young girls, and creating support groups.

I collaborated closely with MetoWe and Senior Coordinator of School Engagement Amanda Monk to develop ShePower and continue to support youth leadership and arts opportunities for underserved and underrepresented communities and minorities.

Image courtesy of Anya Thakur for UN Women.

2018

I became a teen celebrity journalist and UN Women advocate, championing women’s voices and minorities and advocating for Asian American representation. In a recent speech on behalf of the United Nations for UN Women’s GirlUp, I stood up for equality and education for those that need it most. I’ve covered movements from TIMES UP, the Crazy Rich Asians and To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before premieres to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

I’ve created and curated content empowering and celebrating women in film and media and become an advocate for Asian-American representation and underrepresented minorities. And I’ve spotlighted and convened with a multitude of industry leaders, actors, artists, authors and activists, and shared the stories of change-makers and diverse voices.

Anya Thakur is an award-winning teen celebrity journalist and UN Women advocate. As a champion for the increased visibility of minorities, she is spearheading the mission to elevate women and diverse voices. In the Los Angeles Times and as the Women’s Voices Editor for Medium, Arts & Entertainment Editor for Arianna Huffington’s Thrive Global and an Arts & Entertainment journalist for LinkedIn, she celebrates and creates stories of impact and purpose.
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She uses her platform to increase the visibility of women in media, having profiled a host of game-changers from Malala Yousafzai to Oprah Winfrey, Nobel Prize winners and UN Global Goodwill Ambassadors.
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Her work has been nationally recognized by the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards and National Student Poets Program in Carnegie Hall and her poetry has won a National Gold Medal as the most outstanding in the nation.
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She works closely with the United Nations, UN Women, We Movement and the Jane Goodall Foundation to build a better future and empower girls globally.
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ShePower, a global organization she founded in partnership with MetoWe, hosts self-defense, and language and literature workshops to empower rural women in India such as in Delhi, Coimbatore, Mumbai, Manipur, and is active in the United States and Canada. She leads humanitarian efforts with Myna Mahila to create opportunities for women and girls. Her women's advocacy promotes UN Women's mission to empower women and eradicate inequality.
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As an advocate for UN Women and the first Indian teen to launch a UN Women campaign, she is honored to join the ranks of luminaries like Emma Watson and Angelina Jolie, known for both their body of work and their activism, and create a lasting legacy for this generation.
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Through championing women’s voices, Asian American representation and global change as among the nation’s youngest to be involved with the UN on a global level, she has found her voice and aspires to help every potential leader find their own.
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Contact: [email protected]

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